News

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

A new bridge crossing at Wirtz Dam Road has been recommended to receive nearly $3 million in funding for engineering costs in the proposed 2019-2022 Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's Transportation Improvement Plan.

The CAMPO Technical Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Monday, March 26, to hear the recommendations of CAMPO technical staff and to review a draft list of recommended projects from the region, which is comprised of Burnet, Blano, Travis, Williamson, Hays and Caldwell counties.

Lauro Jaimes, 32, of Llano is facing a charge that carries a statutory maximum of life in prison, after a broad net of federal, state and local authorities closed around the last 18 of 28 individuals in the Central Texas area on federal drug charges stemming from a narcotics trafficking investigation.

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday charges those defendants, including Jaimes, and 10 others already in custody, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Count one involves methamphetamine, count two involves cocaine and count three involves heroin. Count four of the indictment is a money laundering charge.

Burnet and surrounding counties do not look to be in the worst danger zone for strong to severe storms tonight through Wednesday across much of South Central Texas but, according to the National Weather Service, pockets of locally heavy rainfall are possible tonight through Wednesday morning.

Driving east could require a watchful eye on the weather.

This evening:  Rio Grande Plains, Southern Edwards Plateau, Winter Garden regions.

Overnight tonight through Wednesday morning: Much of South Central Texas, especially I-35 corridor.

Threats & Impacts: 

Charles Nickolous Linzey, 56, of Copperas Cove has received sentences totaling 60 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the Intoxication Manslaughter of Nancy Parrish of Burnet and a related Intoxication Assault verdict.

A Burnet County jury took little more than an hour to find Linzey guilty and less than that to recommend punishment on March 22. Judge Allan Garrett of the 33rd District Court swiftly pronounced a 50-year sentence on Parrish's death and a separate 10-year sentence for Intoxication Assault of Michael Peyton of Copperas Cove. Peyton was a passenger in Linzey's vehicle when an accident on Oct. 18, 2016 south of Burnet claimed Parrish's life.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Nearly five months after an informational hearing held in Marble Falls, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has given final approval to an air quality permit for a Collier Materials Inc. 300-ton enclosed rock crusher in Tobyville.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls City Council got reassurance of the city's financial health in a report Tuesday, March 20, from the auditing company Pattillo, Brown and Hill.

“Marble Falls has receive an unqualified opinion,” said Angela Verduzco, C.P.A. in her report on the review of financial operations in the year that ended Sept. 30, 2017. “That is the highest pinion that can be rendered.”

Notably, she reminded the council the city had ended the fiscal year with an additional $146,000 in its fund balance. She praised finance director Margie Cardenas and city staff for superior accounting practices and efficient help with questions and expressed confidence that any minor adjustments would be easily done.

The audit will be submitted to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for

Horseshoe Bay officials learned about the details needed to improve local internet coverage at their Tuesday, March 20, meeting.

The officials also received a briefing from the Cultural Enrichment Society and received good news on the city's finances.

BAC

The Broadband Advisory Committee, which consists of JJ Guy, Frank Gracely Jr., Frank Hosea, Christopher Williston, and Nick Summitt, presented their report after more than 200-man hours of meetings and engagements with all current and potential technology providers.

The committee's top goal of its long-range plan is to increase (some would say “provide”) dependable internet access to all homes with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern activity.

This committee looked for all options but have determined wireless providers cannot offer the kind of deep internet provision needed. Wired (direct connect through fiber, cable, or DSL) are needed for quality service.

The traffic light at US 281 and Farm to Market Road 1855 north of Marble Falls is now fully operational, controlling stop and go traffic at the intersection.

The intersection is located right next to the Pottery Ranch at 6000 US 281. where employees say they had become accustomed to being just a little on edge, anticipating the next screech of tires.

“We are all just very happy to see this,” said Scott Kilpatrick, owner of the popular stop for locals and tourists. “Traffic moves by really fast on US 281. It has been a dangerous intersection.”

Passersby may have noticed the light, installed in February, as it began flashing this month. That is because the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) wants motorists to become aware of a new light, according to Diann Hodges of TxDOT's Austin District.

A full signal at FM 1855 and a flashing beacon scheduled for the intersection at Park Road 4 are being funded through the TxDOT safety program, Hodges said.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

Burnet Bulletin

Evidence began Monday, March 19, in the trial of a man accused of causing the 2016 death of a former Burnet County administrative assistant, 77-year-old Nancy Parrish.

A jury was seated Monday in the trial of Charles N. Linzey, 56, of Copperas Cove. Linzey was driving when his F-150 pickup struck a vehicle in which Parrish was a passenger. Parrish was pronounced dead at the scene of the Oct. 18, 2016, collision on US 281, just past the entrance to Delaware Springs Golf Course.

Michael Peyton, traveling with Linzey, was transported by AirEvac with serious injuries.

Parrish's granddaughter, Michelle Light, then 34, was assessed at the time to be less seriously injured. She was the driver of the Chevy Tahoe in which she and her grandmother were traveling.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Another snakebite victim was reported in the Highland Lakes area Sunday, March 18.

The call for aid for a woman on Happy Hollow Road in the Fairland area who had been bitten on the foot came in to the Burnet County Sheriff's Department at 12:42 p.m.

The Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service (MFAEMS) could confirm only that the female patient was transported directly to Baylor Scott & White Marble Falls, where treatment was begun. She was transferred to Baylor Scott & White Temple for continued care.

“At the time of our transport to Temple, the patient was in stable condition,” said Kevin Naumann, MFAEMS operations director.